Golf Club Cover

ABSTRACT

A golf club cover comprised of a cover and a snap. The golf club cover is intended for use on a golf bag having a snap for securing a rain cover to the golf bag. The cover is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club. The snap is integrally and directly attached to the cover and is adapted to mate with the golf club bag rain cover snap. Hook and loop fasteners may be used in place of snaps. A fastener may be placed upon an article of the golfer&#39;s clothing to allow the golf club cover to be attached to the article of clothing.

BACKGROUND

Golf is a popular sport. The game is played with a plurality of golf clubs. The golf clubs are carried in a golf club bag. Typical golf bags are provided with rain covers. A rain cover fits over the open end of the golf bag and protects the golf bag opening and the clubs from rain. Most golf bags have male snaps on the periphery of the golf bag near the opening. The male snaps mate with female snaps on the rain cover. The snaps on the golf bag are usually of a standardized size. The rain cover is attached to the golf bag by interlocking the female rain cover snaps with the male golf bag snaps.

Many golfers find it desirable to cover some or all of their golf clubs with protective golf club covers. The golf club covers fit over the heads of the individual golf clubs and protect the heads. The golf club covers protect the golf club heads from being damaged when the heads strike each other. Because the golf clubs are kept within close proximity to each other within a golf bag, the heads regularly strike each other while the clubs and bag are being moved. Not only are the golf club heads subject to damage in this way, the golf club shafts can be easily damaged and marred. Contact between the golf club heads and shafts occurs both during the playing of the game and during transportation of the golf clubs and bag to and from a golf course.

Golf club covers also protect golf club heads from contamination. The contamination can come from rain falling upon the heads. It can also come from sod and soil on the head of another golf club. It is common for golf club heads to become contaminated by sod and soil during the playing of the game.

During the playing of the game the player's bag and clubs are moved from one ball position to another ball position around a golf course. The bag may be moved from position to position by hand. It may also be moved by a pull cart or a motorized cart. When a club is selected to make a golf shot, the golf club cover is removed. This cover must be stored somewhere. Typically, it is placed on the ground or within a pocket of the golfer's attire. If it is placed within the golfer's pocket it can cause discomfort to the golfer or disrupt the concentration of the golfer. The cover may also damage the golfer's pocket. The cover can be forgotten and later fall out of the golfer's pocket. If the cover is placed on the ground it can likewise be easily forgotten. It is not unusual for golfers to lose multiple golf covers during the course of a season in this manner. If the cover is placed on the ground it can also be easily contaminated. The game of golf is played in a wide variety of weather conditions. A cover placed on the ground is subject to contamination by mud, water, sand, fertilizer, snow and the like.

An improved golf club cover is needed. The improved golf club cover should be able to be quickly and easily attached to a rain cover snap on a golf bag. There, it will not be forgotten and will not become contaminated. It is positioned away from the ground where it may be contaminated. It is positioned on the golf bag such that it is unlikely to be overlooked and forgotten. The golf club cover also will not damage the golfer's pocket because it never enters the golfer's pocket.

Alternatively, the improved golf club cover could be attached to the golf bag or the golfer's clothing with a hook and loop fastener. Another alternative is to provide a snap on the golfer's attire. The clothing snap would mate with a snap on the improved golf club cover.

SUMMARY

The preferred embodiment of the improved golf club cover is intended for use with a golf club bag having a snap for securing a rain cover to the golf bag. Most golf bags are provided with male snaps of a standardized size on the upper periphery of the bag, near the bag opening. These male golf bag snaps are intended to provide an interlocking base for attaching a rain cover with mating snaps. A typical golf bag rain cover is sized and shaped to cover the golf club bag opening, as well as the clubs within the bag. The rain cover has female snaps which mate with the male snaps on the golf bag. The rain cover is secured to the golf bag by interlocking the female snaps of the rain cover with the male snaps of the golf bag. Unless it is raining, the rain cover is usually not attached to the golf bag opening when the golfer is golfing.

An improved golf club cover is comprised of a cover and a snap. The cover is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club. The snap is integrally and directly attached to the cover. In other words, no secondary hardware, such as a tag tethered to the cover, is used to attach the snap to the cover. The snap is adapted to mate with a rain cover snap on the golf bag. Since the rain cover snap on most golf bags is a male snap of standardized size, the snap attached to the cover would most often be a female snap adapted and sized to mate with and interlock with the golf club bag male snap. The cover may be shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club wood or a golf club iron. Preferably, the cover is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club iron.

The improved golf club cover may use a hook and loop fastener in lieu of a snap. In this configuration a hook and loop fastener is attached to the upper periphery of a golf bag. The hook and loop fastener is attached below the opening of the golf bag. The cover is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club. Another hook and loop fastener is integrally and directly attached to the cover. This hook and loop fastener is adapted to mate with the hook and loop fastener attached to the golf bag.

The improved golf club cover may also be used in combination with clothing. A first mating fastener is attached to a piece of clothing. The cover is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club. A second mating fastener is integrally and directly attached to the cover. The second mating fastener is adapted to mate with the first mating fastener of the piece of clothing.

Preferably, the piece of clothing is a pair of pants. The term pants includes shorts. The pants have a pocket with a pocket opening. The first mating fastener is positioned on the exterior of the pocket proximal to and below the pocket opening. This facilitates the engagement and disengagement of the second mating fastener to and from the first mating fastener.

The mating fasteners may be a female snap and a male snap. Preferably, a male snap is attached to the pants and the male snap is adapted to mate with the snap on a golf club bag rain cover which fits the golfer's golf bag. This will allow the improved golf club cover to be directly attached to the rain cover snap on the bag, as previously described, or attached to the male snap on the golfer's pants.

Alternatively, the mating fasteners may be mating hook and loop fasteners. If the golfer's golf bag is equipped with a hook and loop fastener, as previously described, the hook and loop fastener on the clothing should be of the same type. This will allow the improved golf club cover to be attached to the golf bag, as previously described, or attached to the hook and loop fastener on the golfer's pants, or other clothing. Each hook and loop fastener should be a strip of material with a surface of minute hooks or a surface of uncut pile. One surface should be a hook surface and the other surface should be a pile surface. Such fasteners are currently being sold under the tradename VELCRO. VELCRO is a synthetic material sold in ribbon, sheet, or piece goods form. The material has complemental parts which adhere to each other when pressed together and is adapted for use as a closure fastener, or button for closing garments, curtains, or the like.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a broken away elevation view of a golf bag covered by a rain cover, wherein the rain cover is secured to the bag by male snaps on the bag.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an improved golf club cover.

FIG. 3 is a broken away elevation view of the golf bag of FIG. 1, wherein a golf club covered by the improved golf club cover of FIG. 2 rests within the golf bag.

FIG. 4 is a broken away elevation view of the golf bag, golf club and improved golf club cover of FIG. 3, wherein the improved golf club cover has been removed from the golf club and attached to a male rain cover snap on the golf bag.

FIG. 5 is an exploded broken away perspective view of the golf club cover of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a combination piece of clothing and improved golf club cover.

FIG. 7 is a broken away elevation view of a golf bag, wherein a golf club covered by an improved golf club cover provided with a hook and loop fastener rests within the golf bag.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the improved golf club cover of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION

An improved golf club cover 30 is shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The preferred embodiment of the golf club cover 30 is intended for use with a golf bag 20. FIG. 1 shows a typical golf bag 20 containing a golf club 28. The golf bag 20 is covered by a rain cover 24. The rain cover 24 is a hood shaped waterproof structure which fits over the golf bag 20 opening and is secured to the golf bag 20. Most golf bags 20 are manufactured and sold with an accompanying rain cover 24. The rain cover 24 is usually stored within a compartment or pocket on the golf bag 20. Most golf bags 20 are provided with male snaps 22 of a standardized size. The male snaps 22 are positioned upon the upper periphery of the golf bag 20 near the bag opening. The rain cover 24 is provided with snaps (typically female snaps) which interlock with the snaps 22 on the golf bag 20 in such a way that the rain cover 24 may be secured to the golf bag 20, as shown in FIG. 1.

The golf club cover 30 is comprised of a cover 32 and a snap 34, 38. The cover 32 is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club 28. Preferably, the golf club 28 is an iron. The cover 32 may be fabricated from any suitable material such as plastic, vinyl, wool, cloth or leather. Preferably, the cover 32 is shaped and sized to cover not only the head of a golf club 28, but also the hosel. This will provide greater protection to a golf club 28 covered with a golf club cover 30 and to adjacent golf clubs 28 within the same golf bag 20.

The snap 34, 38 is integrally and directly attached to the cover 32, as shown in FIG. 5. It is not necessary to provide the cover 32 with any other hardware, such as a tethered tag, for containing the snap 34, 38. After the snap 34, 38 is attached to the cover 32, the cover 32 and the snap 34, 38 become one integral piece. Common two-piece snaps 34 should be used, as shown in FIG. 5. A two-piece snap 34 is comprised of a connector 40 and a cap 42. The connector 40 and the cap 42 are sometimes referred to as grommets. The cylindrical extension of the cap 42 is inserted through a hole in the cover 32 material into the connector 40. The cylindrical extension of the cap 42 is then crimped onto the cover 32, thereby providing the cover 32 with a snap 34 which is integrally and directly attached to the cover 32. Ideally, the snap 34 is positioned near the shaft opening of the golf club cover 30, as shown in FIG. 2. The snap 34 parts are crimped together with a crimping tool which is configured similar to a pair of pliers. If the snap 34 is positioned close to the shaft opening of the golf club cover 30, the jaws of the crimping tool are sufficiently large to allow the snap 34 parts to be easily crimped together. If the snap 34 were placed a significantly longer distance away from the shaft opening of the golf club cover 30, it would be more difficult to crimp the snap 34 parts 40, 42 together.

The snap 34 is adapted to mate with a rain cover snap 22 on the golf bag 20. Since golf bags 20 are usually provided with male snaps 22 of a standardized size for securing the rain cover 24, the snap 34, 38 on the golf club cover 30 should be a female snap 38 which is adapted to mate with the golf club bag 20 rain cover snap 22. The mating snaps 22, 34 will then easily securely snap together and easily unsnap from each other with a manually applied force.

Another embodiment of this invention is a golf club cover 30 and golf bag 20 combination. The combination is comprised of a golf club bag 20, a hook and loop fastener 26 attached to the golf bag 20, a cover 32 and a hook and loop fastener 44 attached to the cover 32. Each hook and loop fastener 26, 44 should be a strip of material with a surface of minute hooks or a surface of uncut pile. One surface should be a hook surface and the other surface should be a pile surface. Such fasteners are currently being sold under the tradename VELCRO. VELCRO is a synthetic material sold in ribbon, sheet, or piece goods form. The material has complemental parts which adhere to each other when pressed together and is adapted for use as a closure fastener, or button for closing garments, curtains, or the like.

The hook and loop fastener 26 which is attached to the golf bag 20 is attached to the upper periphery of the golf bag 20, below the opening of the golf bag 20, as shown in FIG. 7. The cover 32 is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club 28, as previously described. The hook and loop fastener 44 which is attached to the cover 32 is integrally and directly attached to the cover, as shown in FIG. 8. The hook and loop fastener 44 of the cover 32 is adapted to mate with the hook and loop fastener 26 of the golf bag 20.

An additional embodiment of this invention is a golf club cover 32 and clothing 50 combination. The combination is comprised of a piece of clothing 50 and a cover 32. The piece of clothing 50 has a first mating fastener 54, 26 attached to it. The first mating fastener 54, 26 is adapted to mate with a second mating fastener 34, 44 on the cover 32. The cover 32 is shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club 28, as previously described. A second mating fastener 34, 44 is integrally and directly attached to the cover 32. The second mating fastener 34, 44 is adapted to mate with the first mating fastener 54, 26 of the piece of clothing 50.

Preferably, the piece of clothing 50 is a pair of pants. The pants have at least one pocket 52, as shown in FIG. 6. The pocket 52 has a pocket opening. The first mating fastener 54, 26 is positioned upon the exterior of the pocket 52 proximal to and below the pocket opening, as shown in FIG. 6. This will facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the second mating fastener 34, 44 to and from the first mating fastener 54, 26.

Preferably, the mating fasteners are comprised of a female snap 38 attached to the cover 32 and a male snap 54 attached to the pants 50. The male snap 54 should be the same as the standardized rain cover snaps 22 used on most golf bags 20. The female snap 38 mates with this male snap 22. This will allow the golf club cover 30 to be attached to the rain cover snap 22 on a golf bag 20 or a snap 54 on the golfer's pants.

Alternatively, hook and loop fasteners 44, 26 may be attached to the cover 32 and the pants 50. The hook and loop fasteners 44, 26 mate as previously described.

In order to use the first described embodiment of the golf club cover 30, a golf club cover 30 is placed over each golf club 28 that the golfer desires to protect. As the golfer plays the game of golf the need will arise to use a covered golf club 28. The golf club 28 is removed from the golf bag and the golf club cover 30 is removed, in the order preferred by the golfer. The golfer snaps the golf club cover 30 onto a rain cover snap 22 of the golf bag and plays a golf shot. After the golf shot is completed the golf club cover 30 is unsnapped from the rain cover snap 22 and replaced over the head of the golf club 28. The golf club 28 is returned to the golf bag. This process is repeated as more golf shots are played. If the golf club cover 30 is fabricated with a hook and loop fastener 44, then that fastener 44 is attached to a mating fastener 26 on the golf bag 20, in lieu of snapping the golf club cover 30 onto a rain cover snap 22 of the golf bag 20. If it is desired to secure the golf club cover 30 to the pants 50 of the golfer, then the golf club cover is attached to the mating fastener 54, 26 on the golfer's pants 50. The fasteners 54, 26 are preferably positioned upon the pants 50 so that a golfer may secure the golf club cover 30 to the fastener 54, 26 by compressing the fastener 34, 44 of the golf club cover 30 onto the fastener 54, 26 of the pants with the golfer's thumb and fingers while the golfer's thumb or fingers are inserted into the pocket 52.

The improved golf club cover 30 provides significant advantages. It can be quickly and easily attached to a rain cover snap 22 on a golf bag 20. There, it will not be forgotten and will not become contaminated. It is spaced away from the ground to avoid ground contamination. It is positioned on the golf bag 20 such that it is unlikely to be overlooked and forgotten. It will not damage the golfer's pocket because it never enters the golfer's pocket. Alternatively, the golf club cover 30 may be attached to the golfer's clothing with similar advantages.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art undoubtedly will find alternative embodiments obvious after reading this disclosure. With this in mind, the following claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded the inventor, and those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A golf club cover for use with a golf club bag having a snap for securing a rain cover to the golf bag, said golf club cover comprising: (a) a cover shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club; (b) a snap integrally and directly attached to the cover, said snap being adapted to mate with the golf club bag rain cover snap.
 2. The golf club cover of claim 1, wherein the golf club bag rain cover snap is a male snap and the snap that is integrally and directly attached to the cover is a female snap.
 3. The golf club cover of claim 1, wherein the cover is a golf club iron cover.
 4. The golf club cover of claim 2, wherein the cover is a golf club iron cover.
 5. A golf club cover and golf bag combination comprising: (a) a golf club bag; (b) a hook and loop fastener attached to the upper periphery of the golf bag, below the opening of the golf bag; (c) a cover shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club; (d) a hook and loop fastener integrally and directly attached to the cover, said hook and loop fastener being adapted to mate with the hook and loop fastener attached to the golf club bag.
 6. A golf club cover and clothing combination comprising: (a) a piece of clothing having a first mating fastener attached thereto; (b) a cover shaped and sized to cover the head of a golf club; and (c) a second mating fastener integrally and directly attached to the cover, said second mating fastener being adapted to mate with the first mating fastener of the piece of clothing.
 7. The golf club cover and clothing combination of claim 6 wherein: (a) the piece of clothing is a pair of pants having a pocket with a pocket opening; and (b) the first mating fastener is positioned on the exterior of the pocket proximal to and below the pocket opening for facilitating the engagement and disengagement of the second mating fastener to and from the first mating fastener.
 8. The golf club cover and clothing combination of claim 6 wherein the mating fasteners are comprised of a female snap and a male snap.
 9. The golf club cover and clothing combination of claim 7 wherein the mating fasteners are comprised of a female snap and a male snap.
 10. The golf club cover and clothing combination of claim 6 wherein the mating fasteners are mating hook and loop fasteners.
 11. The golf club cover and clothing combination of claim 7 wherein the mating fasteners are mating hook and loop fasteners. 